HC stays operation of SEC notification in Odisha

Orissa High Court today ordered an interim stay on the operation of the notification issued by State Election Commission restricting the use of party symbols by the candidates for the ensuing panchayat elections. Admitting a writ petition challenging the notification, Justice S K Mishra granted an interim stay on the operation of the notification and posted the case to be heard again on Thursday after issuing notices to the opposite parties.

The commission on January 19 had issued the notification asking ward members, sarpanchs and panchayat samiti members contesting the elections not to use any political party symbols as political parties are debarred from sponsoring candidates.

The petitioner Haramani Singh, a Sarpanch candidate of Mitrapur pancahayt in Balasore district, moved the HC on the grounds that the impugned notification was violating fundamental rights of the candidates. Besides, she argued that by the time the notification was issued, the candidates had already spent a considerable amount in printing banners, posters and cards using party symbol. The all-party meeting convened by the SEC on December 23, 2011 had not discussed the issue, she contended.